Spring Training Game Threads (2010)

[JMUalumni]

Straight from Kilgore's blog:

1:29: The Nationals lead, 1-0, after the first inning. Roger Bernadina drove in Willie Harris, who doubled against Clay Buchholz, with an infield single. In his chance to make a final argument for the fifth starter job, Scott Olsen allowed only a walk to Victor Martinez. He struck out Jacoby Ellsbury and Kevin Youkilis, who swung through a nice, outside changeup.

[daveb32]

May it also be noted that Guzman walked after Harris' double.

[EdStroud]

End 1 1/2 Nats 1 Sox 0

[EdStroud]

Ortiz, Beltre and Cameron(RBI) with hits game tied at 1 after 2 innings

[hammondsnats]

1-1 after two. 

Olsen started the inning giving up a double to Big Steroid Papi, then allowed Beltre to single.  J.D. Drew struck out and Mike Cameron popped up to shallow right-center (a play Harris could've made, so says Adam Kilgore), then a groundout and another Elsbury strikeout ended the inning.

Olsen: 2 ip, 3 h, er, bb, 4 k ... not bad

[EdStroud]

I like the 4 Ks

[hammondsnats]

1-1 after three.

Olsen: 3 ip, 3 or 4 h, er, bb, 5 k

[Nathan]

1-1 after three.

Olsen: 3 ip, 3 or 4 h, er, bb, 5 k

Garbage.  He's a bum, stick a knife in him, he's done   washed up.

[JMUalumni]

2:11: Scott Olsen rolled through the second. He allowed only a groundball single to Kevin Youkilis. Dustin Pedroia chopped back to Olsen, Victor Martinez popped foul to first and David Ortiz struck out. Olsen has allowed two hits and struck out five through three innings. This is exactly what he wanted to do to help his chances at the fifth starter spot.

[CJames0569]

1-1 after three.

Olsen: 3 ip, 3 or 4 h, er, bb, 5 k

Looks like Olsen is making his case for the 5th starter spot. Nice outing for him so far, and against the redsox opening day line up no less.

[hammondsnats]

Olsen: 4 ip, 4 h, er, bb, 6 k

[JMUalumni]

Kilgore reports Olsen is sitting at 88 MPH with his fastball and hitting as high as 91 MPH.

2:26: Scott Olsen is making a pretty emphatic statement is his bid to become the fifth starter. He struck out Adrian Beltre and J.D. Drew in a 1-2-3 fourth. He has allowed four hits including a bloop and struck out seven. A scout sitting behind home plate said Olsen is pitching at 88 mph and hitting 91 at most while mixing in a good mix of sliders and changeups -- "he's throwing really well."

[hammondsnats]

Olsen: 5 ip, 5 h, er, bb, 7 k

[JMUalumni]

Latest Kilgorian update:

2:44: Before the game, Manager Jim Riggleman said this: "I hope Scott has a good outing today to give us some encouragement. We may go with Mock either way." This afternoon, Olsen has got to putting some pressure on Riggleman to choose him as the Nationals' fifth starter. Olsen allowed a groundball single in the fifth and nothing else. He struck out Jason Varitek swinging at a high fastball, bringing his total to seven. This is by far the best he has been all spring. It is 1-1, as the Nats have no hits since the first inning.

- Olsen done after five, MacDougal up next.  Harris (2B) and Guzman (RF) have switched positions.

[The Chief]

Why do I get the sinking feeling that our offense is going to come crashing back down to earth this year?

[hammondsnats]

Why do I get the sinking feeling that our offense is going to come crashing back down to earth this year?

then get Jermaine Dye haha jk

[Galah]

Why do I get the sinking feeling that our offense is going to come crashing back down to earth this year?

None of our big bats are there today but, you wouldn't be a Nats fan if you didn't wonder how the wheels are gonna come off the bus THIS year...

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Buchholz pummels AAA hitting, and, other than maybe the first four hitters, none of the Nats line up is much better than that.  Nice to see Olsen pitch effectively against a regular line up.

My guess is the Red Sox regulars don't play much tomorrow.  This was their last Fort Myers game, so they probably put more emphasis on this one rather than the next.  Do nice for the home away from home crowd (or is that Baltimore?).

Why do I get the sinking feeling that our offense is going to come crashing back down to earth this year?

[JMUalumni]

3:03: Mike MacDougal peppered the backstop in the sixth, allowing a run after two straight wild pitches. Cristian Guzman made his first play in right field, fielding a single and throwing in to the infield without incident. The Nationals trail, 3-1, and MacDougal is done after getting two outs.

2:53: Scott Olsen threw 95 pitches, 69 strikes.

[EdStroud]

Which ex-Marlin pitcher throws next?

[ronnynat]

Olsen: 5 ip, 5 h, er, bb, 7 k

That's awesome.

[NatsDad14]

Why do I get the sinking feeling that our offense is going to come crashing back down to earth this year?

Because all of the good Nationals hitters had career years last season (Dunn, Zimmerman, Willingham, Morgan, Desmond). That's 5 out of 8 starters. When you factor in that the team will have an albatross at RF and C while 2B is mediocre, there is plenty of reasons to be worried.

[Evolution33]

Because all of the good Nationals hitters had career years last season (Dunn, Zimmerman, Willingham, Morgan, Desmond). That's 5 out of 8 starters. When you factor in that the team will have an albatross at RF and C while 2B is mediocre, there is plenty of reasons to be worried.

I hope you never have a good day in your life because with your logic you might off yourself because the next day has to be terrible.

[Galah]

I hope you never have a good day in your life because with your logic you might off yourself because the next day has to be terrible.

Expect the worst and you will never be disappointed

[NatsDad14]

I hope you never have a good day in your life because with your logic you might off yourself because the next day has to be terrible.

I think that the offense has a ceiling of being average like last season. Isn't anyone concerned that Dunn, Zimmerman, and Morgan put up numbers off of their career norms? Does it worry you that last year was the first time that Ian Desmond didn't suck? We know that C, 2B, and RF will be mediocre at best. The rest of the lineup has to carry them.